Toronto Zoo Selects SCARF Nutrition Resident

We are pleased to announce the appointment of Sarra Gourlie to the position of SCARF Nutrition Resident at the Toronto Zoo. The Toronto Zoo was awarded the Sue Crissey Animal Nutrition Residency Fund (SCARF) Grant by the Zoo and Wildlife Nutrition Foundation (ZWNF). This fund was established in 2006 by the Chicago Zoological Society, in cooperation with the AZA Nutrition Advisory Group (NAG), to acknowledge and honor the significant impact that Sue Crissey had on the field of zoo nutrition during her 15 years of service at Brookfield Zoo. The goal of the SCARF Grant is to support residencies in nutritional studies that will improve the welfare of animals in zoos and aquariums while training the next generation of Zoo Nutritionists. To date, two residents have completed the program and Sarra will be the third.

As a Nutrition Resident, Sarra will train at the Toronto Zoo to become a Zoo Nutritionist, qualified for employment in an AZA/CAZA accredited facility. Reporting to the Nutritionist, this two-year educational position will allow her to participate in and review the operations, managerial activities, diet formulations, clinical case management, meetings, courses, presentations, research, development, and training programs of the Toronto Zoo Wildlife Nutrition Centre.

Sarra joined the Toronto Zoo as a Temporary Nutrition Assistant and thereafter entered the Toronto Zoo Nutrition Internship Program during which she completed research on the suitability of apple browse for large primates and obtained her Master’s degree by thesis, from the University of Guelph. More recently, she has been employed as a Research and Development assistant at the Wildlife Nutrition Centre, working on the Black-footed Ferret Recovery Program and on the Toronto Zoo Carnivore Diet Program. We look forward to Sarra continuing her relationship with the Zoo community and furthering her knowledge and skills in pursuit of joining the field as a professional Zoo Nutritionist. Congratulations Sarra!

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